Oregon Vacations Idea #1:
The spectacular 4,000 feet deep
Columbia River Gorge is a cool spot for a vacation. In the heart of the beautiful gorge is the City of Cascade Locks .... nearby Bonneville Lock and Dam has two massive hydroelectric powerhouses .... a tour includes underwater viewing rooms where you can see the fish migrating upstream. Cascade Locks is also the starting point for the 2600 mile long Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.
Oregon Vacations Idea #2:
A highlight of any vacation in Oregon will be the
Oregon Coast Aquarium, located in Newport, it was named one of the top 10 aquariums in the country by Parade magazine. The 4,730-gallon tank in the
Sandy Shores Gallery is a cross-section of a wave-lapped beach. Touch a spiny lumpsucker in the
Rocky Shores touch pool .... see sharks and gray whales in the
Whale Theater .... outside are the sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, and tufted puffins.
Passages of the Deep is a 200-foot underwater tunnel through a 1.32-million-gallon fish tank. Don't miss this on your Newport Oregon vacation.
Vacation Ideas in Oregon #3:
Whale Watching is a popular seaside vacation activity in Oregon. The migration route of the California Gray whale runs along the Oregon coast twice a year. Trained marine naturalists usually provide a narration with interesting whale facts and can often name the individual whales because they see the same ones every year. There are about ten different companies offering whale watching tours out of Depoe Bay, Newport, Charleston and Garibaldi.
Oregon Vacations Idea #4:
The deepest lake in the country,
Crater Lake, makes an excellent place for a vacation fishing trip. Crater Lake National Park boasts towering cliffs that enclose the 21 square mile lake and some of the cleanest air in the country. There are more than 90 miles of one-way and loop hiking trails. Take in the scenery around the lake by driving around the rim of the crater or take a boat tout across the lake. With an average of 533 inches of snow every year, winter brings great cross-country skiing, and snowshoe hikes.
Vacation Ideas in Oregon #5:
Take Northwest coast family vacation and hike the miles of trails through the old growth temperate rainforest of
Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. The ocean presents tidal pools to explore at low-tide. During migration seasons you can spot whales off the rocky coastline. Guided naturalist programs, walks, and interpretive exhibits are available at the visitors center.
Oregon Vacations Idea #6:
Take in the splendors of the scenic
Columbia Gorge on vacation drive .... ride on the Mount Hood Railroad, located 60 miles east of Portland. Take a leisurely train ride through some of Oregon's most beautiful scenery in the Hood River Valley. Enjoy a delicious meal in the meticulously restored dining cars of the Dinner or Brunch Train. There are special events throughout the year like the Murder Mystery Dinner Train, Christmas Tree Trains, or the Comedy Dinner Train.
Oregon Vacations Idea #7:
Cannon Beach is a small but very popular place for an Oregon beach vacation. With a population under 2,000 you can really get away from it all. Only four miles long, Cannon Beach is known for it's stunning sunsets, quaint beauty, flowers, and art galleries. For camping and other outdoor activities there are four state parks close by.
Oregon Vacations Idea #8:
For a Sunriver and Bend vacation .... Wanderlust Tours has it all. The beauty of central Oregon is yours as you enjoy canoeing .... moonlight canoeing .... volcano tours .... cave tours .... Sunriver resort trips ....hiking ....sightseeing .... snowshoeing .... moonlight snowshoeing .... snow camping.
Oregon Vacations Idea #9:
Experience an Oregon
spa vacation at the 4000-square-foot full-service Blue Giraffe Day Spa, located in the heart of Ashland Rejuvenate in the welcoming and luxurious setting .... pampering your body with a choice of relaxing massages, facials, baths, or body treatments. Ashland is also home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Oregon Vacations Idea #9:
A
Columbia River cruise is a fun relaxing way to enjoy the incredible natural scenery of the Pacific Northwest. American West Steamboat Company will take you on a 1,000 mile cruise along the beautiful Columbia, Snake and Willamette Rivers. Some of the places you wll see are Mt. Saint Helens Volcanic Monument, Maryhill Museum and Stonehenge, and Multnomah Falls. Along the way you can enjoy a jet boat excursion into Hells Canyon.
Oregon Vacations Idea #10:
The Out N About Treesort in Takilma, Oregon, is the place to go for a treehouse vacation. Relax in the graceful embrace of a living tree. They have fifteen treehouses for up to 50 guests along with a treehouse spa called
Deva Spa. This is truly a unique one-of-a-kind experience. During the summer the guests are mainly families with children. The off season is usually the time for guests looking for a romantic getaway spot. During your stay you can attend various events like riding clinics, music festivals and workshops in treehouse construction or climbing. This truly a unique vacation spot in Oregon and an experience that you won't soon forget.
Oregon Vacations Idea #11:
The coast of Oregon is a great place to explore if you enjoy lighthouses. There are nine
historical Oregon lighthouses here dating back as far as 1857. Ten miles west of Tillamook is the
Cape Meares Lighthouse which was built in 1890 and open for self-guided tours. Just north of Yaquina Bay is the
Yaquina Bay Lighthouse built in 1873. It's been restored and features an interpretive exhibit. The
Heceta Head Lighthouse is a few miles north of Florence and operates as a bed & breakfast. The
Umpqua Lighthouse, south of Reedsport, offers tours and is next door to Umpqua Lighthouse State Park where you can enjoy camping and fishing. The
Coquille River Lighthouse has interpretive displays and is located in Bullards Beach State Park. The park has a horse camp which makes it popular for horse camp campers.
Oregon Vacations Idea #12:
Contributed by
Jimmie L. Lucht.
I would love to have you step back in time and visit my town, Albany, Oregon. If you can picture yourself visiting a Norman Rockwell painting, you will enjoy your stay in Albany. You can walk down the city streets and see the refurbished old store fronts, shop in the wonderful little boutiques and antique shops, and dine on terrific foods.
After your meal you will want to walk to Monteith Park on the banks of the Willamette and Calapoolia rivers, just a block away from downtown, providing shade trees, picnic tables and a view of the rivers. In the summer months you will find concerts in this park on Monday and Thursday evenings, so bring a blanket or your favorite lawn chair, relax and enjoy! You can pack your own picnic basket or enjoy the enticing selections from the local vendor booths. Bring a bottle of wine from one of the Willamette Valley’s many award winning local wineries and make it even better.
|
While you are visiting, you will not want to miss the carousel project and Dentzel American Carousel Museum. With the donation of a 100 year old carousel mechanism brought to Albany from California, a group of local people got together and are in the process of carving and building a beautiful carousel. People who have never carved or painted before, are now producing true works of art that will eventually populate the carousel.
Drop by and I guarantee a smiling volunteer will be sure to greet you and will be more than happy to explain the process of taking detailed drawings through the rough stages, to the customized and detailed carving; to the layers of paint that end with a visit to the automotive shop for a finish that shines just like a new car. Although the finished project is a couple of years away, it is still a visit you won’t want to miss.
Before you leave our little town make sure you visit the historical homes in the area. You can get a detailed map and description of the homes from the Albany Visitors Association. The map shows you how you can walk, drive or bicycle by the homes. You won’t want to miss the first frame built home in Albany, the Monteith House, or the “Owl house.” There are 88 homes and buildings on this tour, and over 700 historical homes and buildings in the four National Historic Districts.
You might want to top off your stay with a few nights at a local bed and breakfast. A large old Victorian home called the “Train House Inn” or a cozy bungalow called the “Pfeiffer Cottage Inn.” I will be looking for you to visit soon!!
